SAN JOSE, Calif. — Spread and shred, indeed.
Opportunity knocked on the visitors locker room doors at CEFCU Stadium as the Hawaii football team readied to take on San Jose State on Saturday night. Mountain West co-leaders Boise State and UNLV suffered their first conference losses of the season before UH kicked off, offering a tantalizing possibility for the Rainbow Warriors to move a step closer to a berth in the MWC championship game.
The Spartans wouldn’t cooperate. Behind former UH assistant Craig Stutzmann’s devastating four-wide offense dubbed the spread and shred, SJSU overwhelmed UH’s defense, racking up 603 yards of offense and the most points allowed by the Rainbow Warriors in their 45-38 victory.
FINAL: San Jose State 45, #HawaiiFB 38
Spartans (3-5, 2-2) keep Rainbow Warriors (6-3, 3-2) from taking a step toward Mountain West title game picture.
SJSU racks up 633 yards of offense and beats UH in Tomey Trophy contest for fifth straight time. pic.twitter.com/SHb0Vlf7QX
— Brian McInnis (@Brian_McInnis) November 2, 2025
UH (6-3, 3-2 MWC) filed out of the stadium frustrated at the missed opportunity. It now will try to get one back against MWC leader San Diego State (7-1, 4-0) at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex next weekend.
In part due to a series of penalties, had to rally from a 17-point halftime hole and put itself in position for a comeback win with Jackson Harris’ second touchdown catch from Micah Alejado to make it 38-35 with 9:32 to play.
But SJSU quarterback Walker Eget directed his team 75 yards the other way and running back Steve Chavez-Soto powered through for a touchdown hat trick.
UH managed to make it a one-score game but took precious time to do it as Kansei Matsuzawa connected on a 24-yard field goal with 1:16 left. It tied Richard Spelman’s program record for total field goals in a season, adding to the Tokyo native’s growing resume.
Matsuzawa’s deliberately low onside kick attempt went through everybody and out of bounds, and SJSU was able to kneel out the clock.
SJSU players gleefully made off with the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy for the fifth straight time in the rivalry meeting.
Alejado went 31-for-46 for 367 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. While Eget completed only half of his passes (20-for-40) he just kept bombing downfield and reaped the rewards — 458 yards, two TDs and no picks.
For a key stretch in the second quarter, Spartans quarterback Eget went deep seemingly at will. SJSU scored touchdowns on four straight first-half possessions, and added a field goal to build a 17-point halftime lead. Thirty-one points was a SJSU season high for a first half.
UH did not record a sack or tackle for loss for the game. It was assessed 11 penalties for 80 yards, plus a handful that SJSU declined because it got something better from the play.
Rainbow Warriors coach Timmy Chang greeted his counterpart Ken Niumatalolo at midfield afterward and the teams’ assistant coaches mingled. SJSU features several with Hawaii ties including offensive coordinator Stutzmann, offensive line coach John Estes and receivers coach Billy Ray Stutzmann.
SJSU (3-5, 2-2) needed the game to keep hopes alive for bowl eligibility after a series of losses in one-score games.
Note: This story will be updated.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.